Selection Process & Standards

Draft Process

All new incoming athletes that meet the CTFL's 2026 standards (listed below) and are registered with a provincial track and field organization (Example: Athletics BC or Ontario) are eligible for the CTFL draft. Athletes must register for the draft on their own through the CTFL website. Draft registration will open on January 1st and will close February 8th.

It is important to note that the league is not a registered club, allowing athletes to train with their individual coaches and compete as they would normally (excluding the pre-designated prelim and championship meet). Currently, athletes will have the opportunity to compete in ten events including: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, Sprint Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, Shot Put and Long Jump. In the coming seasons, more events will be added and with it, the league will expand. 

Those new to the CTFL will register for the draft and will be entered into a pool of eligible prospects to be added to team rosters. From the prospect pool, the four CTFL teams will select the necessary athletes to complete their rosters, evenly split between men and women (three men and three women per event for each team). The draft will occur sometime in late March or early April.

Once athletes have been drafted from the pool of potential prospects, they are now a member of the CTFL. There are currently no contracts that need to be signed other than a media release form, nor is there a need to switch clubs or coaches. Athletes are still members of their current clubs for which they register to receive their athlete ID. Therefore, your CTFL team does not replace your club or coach. The league is designed similarly to how a series of meets would be organized with athletes signing up and then competing. The difference is that athletes are now placed on teams for which they accumulate points, and in the end, some receive cash prizes.  

Standards

To be eligible to enter into the CTFL draft and prospect pool, athletes must have achieved the following standards within the past two outdoor seasons (2025 & 2024) or the current and previous indoor season (2026 & 2025) as well as be registered with a provincial track and field organization (Example: Athletics Alberta). The converted indoor standards are slightly more difficult as the league must ensure that the athlete can achieve those types of performances outdoors. No flat to banked conversions will be taken for the indoor standards. 

Outdoor Standards

Indoor Standards (Converted)

Free Agency and Trade

Once an athlete is drafted, they will compete for their team that drafted them until they are released or traded. 

Athletes who are members of the CTFL this season will have the ability to hold their position within the league for next year, pending they finish within the top 8 of their respective event's standings. If an athlete does not finish within the top 8 of their event, their team's general manager's will have the ability to keep the athlete or release them to free agency to be claimed by another team. If unclaimed by another team, that athlete is removed from the CTFL following the 2025 season and will enter the draft process for the 2026 season. If an athlete is injured or made a national team which caused them to miss portions of the season, the CTFL asks for a minimal amount of proof for the athlete to be red shirted, meaning they can maintain their CTFL athlete status without the need to be released to free agency. All athletes must register for the upcoming season, regardless of being a new or returning athlete.

Athletes will only be able to switch teams if they are traded or released which can only be done after the championship has been completed. For athletes this only affects what team you represent at the official CTFL meets.